Topic: Maui Z1 1973

[MauiK3]

I worked on setting points. I find these to be more difficult than my K3 750. For some reason they just seem harder. I can see why people put electronic ignition in these.

[PeWe]

Dyna-S seems to be OK nowadays.
Even my K2 got it last summer when it started to run really bad. Point 2-3 was not possible to adjust. Probably damaged point.(TEC).

I gave up, checked my close bike shop on internet, yes in stock. Called them and doublechecked stock status. He went to the shelves and picked the last one for me that arrived 5 minutes later.

It took max 5 minutes to adjust after 15 minutes install. Plate in middle position, started engine and adjusted with stroboscope. Both 1,4 and 2,3 OK.
Bike already had an extra 12V connection ready to connect.

Dynas instruction more like a fault tracing guide.

I use cut advancer springs  so it work fine to adjust at 1200rpm idle. Full advance will kick in at around 2600-2700 rpm. Work fine on stock engine and more modified with much hotter cam.

Z1-900 might not have issue with sloppy adv springs letting advance increase too early and quick as CB750?

A pure stocker bike have a reason to use the old original ignition though.

[Stev-o]

Edit:
Read news here about a snowstorm that will hit Hawaii very soon!!

Wow, that's making International news! 
Blizzard warnings for the Big Island but guessing Maui is getting a lot of wind and rain.

All ok Steve?

[RAFster122s]

Hit yesterday, video time lapse at around 14k ft observatory on the Big Island

Just like most news headlines, sensation to get you to watch or listen or click...
Reality is most of island doesn't see snow, just extreme elevation areas. Doubt many people are living at high altitudes as they are pretty remote.

Only Mauna Kea And Mauna Loa was seeing snow, the tallest peak at 13,803 feet and 13,6xx feet respectively..

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather/forecasters-predicting-snow-hawaii-rcna7613?utm_source=join1440&utm_medium=email

Heavy swells and heavy rain & wind affecting people down at ocean side areas and normal living areas...

[MauiK3]

We see snow on Haleakala most years at least for a day or two. This storm has been pretty heavy, more water than we’ve seen in our 15 years here, lots of wind and it’s not hurricane season! Our house is out of the tsunami flood zone and up pretty high with slopes down on all sides, we do pretty well. Some of the areas around here have gotten some flooding and some of it pretty bad. Lots of down trees and some home damage.  Hawaii DOT crews respond well, they were out clearing roads all night. A local (large) construction firm Goodfellow Brothers always jumps in with additional heavy equipment, they are really good about it.

A question about the Z1. As I hand turn it over setting things I have noticed a little roughness at a few points in the rotation. I’m going to check cam timing just to be sure. It turns easily, no plugs are in, everything assembly lubed. It almost feels like cam chain wiping by the guide. Anyone felt this?

[MauiK3]

More points fussing.
I have two points plates, one unmarked, one is TEC. I had the unmarked installed since it looked fresher and was pulling my nonexistent hair out with inconsistent adjustments, they were all over the place. Then I loosened the three outer plate screws and wiggled the points plate around and it had side play in the fit. I tried the TEC  and no side play. I proceeded to adjust points with no drama.
I may try to find a points plate by Kokusan Denki, the original part.

[MauiK3]

I did some checking on my rumble feeling while hand cranking. I removed the oil pump to make sure it was not contributing, it’s fine. I also looked down the cam chain tunnel and all looks well, I thought perhaps the base gasket might be out of position and hitting the chain, since it is intermittent that doesn’t make sense but I checked anyway. I rolled it over and determined that each time I felt it there was one intake and one exhaust lobe bearing down on a valve. There is plenty of assembly lube everywhere. It’s consistent, one intake and one exhaust. I have to conclude it’s valve spring pushback making this odd sensation. Since I’m not familiar with this motor I’m just nervous about any little thing.

[Terry in Australia]

That is weird Steve, I've put 2 Kawasaki Z engines together in the last year or so and don't remember a "rumble" sensation when turning them over by hand? All your crank bearings and little end bearings are good? Cam chain tensioner working properly? Interesting.

[MauiK3]

It all went together smoothly. It’s pretty subtle and coincides with any pair of intake and exhaust lobes bearing down. It doesn’t follow any one set. This head has what are listed as heavy valve springs, I contemplated changing them but they were working fine. I suppose I could remove the cams to verify further. I may do that.

[MauiK3]

A few folks on the KZrider forum say this odd feeling resistance while hand turning is normal for this engine. Makes sense, it coincides with cam lobes depressing valves.
As for the forks, the manual calls out 10 weight non detergent oil. My NAPA store does not have this, I’ll check the other possibilities, anyone have any suggestions?
What weight is ATF?

[grcamna2]

A few folks on the KZrider forum say this odd feeling resistance while hand turning is normal for this engine. Makes sense, it coincides with cam lobes depressing valves.
As for the forks, the manual calls out 10 weight non detergent oil. My NAPA store does not have this, I’ll check the other possibilities, anyone have any suggestions?
What weight is ATF?

ATF works out to like 7.5wt. I think you can buy some standard 10wt. petroleum fork oil should be good on that Steve.

[Terry in Australia]

A few folks on the KZrider forum say this odd feeling resistance while hand turning is normal for this engine. Makes sense, it coincides with cam lobes depressing valves.
As for the forks, the manual calls out 10 weight non detergent oil. My NAPA store does not have this, I’ll check the other possibilities, anyone have any suggestions?
What weight is ATF?

Any engine should have a feeling of resistance when turning over as you say Steve, because pistons are moving up cylinders and cams are opening and closing valves, so maybe your terminology of a “rumble” threw me, a rumble usually indicates something bad.

[MauiK3]

Yes, I didn’t quite know how to describe it.
Delivered the bashed tank and side covers and tail to the shop on Oahu yesterday. I’ll know more Monday after the fellow returns from off island and can get a closer look. I hope he can fix it. It would be cool to have the before and after.
The shop is in this heavy industrial area between the airport and Waikiki. Pretty seedy place full of little shops. They do what looks like great body and paint work.

[Stev-o]

Delivered the bashed tank and side covers and tail to the shop on Oahu yesterday.

What was your mode of transportation? 

I always use ATF for the forks, depending on the brand, it is typically between 7.5 - 10 wt.

[MauiK3]

We have an island hopper airline called Mokulele, they use Cessna Caravans, 9 passenger, no TSA and at Maui, Big Island and Oahu they use what's called the Inter Island Terminal separate from the big terminals. They charged us $20 to check one carry on bag and one yellow top bin with the parts. The baggage goes in a compartment on the underside of the fuselage. We had to go to Oahu anyway so it was cheap. I may even fly over to pick it up when it's done, or perhaps my daughter can pick it up, she goes over for work at times. I'm nervous about shipping it commercial. Here is a link to the plane. They fly at 2500 to 9000 feet, you get a nice tour. Once when flying to the Big Island they flew us right over the Haleakala Crater, very scenic, when approaching Molokai they often go along the northern sea cliffs and there are waterfalls. Lots of fun.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Mokulele+cessna+caravan&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiGgqvIy9n0AhWhGzQIHR4yCzoQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=Mokulele+cessna+caravan&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQDDIGCAAQCBAeOgcIIxDvAxAnOgUIABCABDoECAAQQzoGCAAQBxAeOggIABAIEAcQHlCqDFieJmClOWgAcAB4AIABkwGIAckKkgEEMC4xMJgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=83ezYca8DKG30PEPnuSs0AM&bih=675&biw=1291#imgrc=EuFu3y3L_YetcM

[Stev-o]

We have an island hopper airline called Mokulele...

When I was visiting Oahu, I considered flying to Maui for a day, it was only $80.  Thought it would be too rushed, didnt do it and kinda regretted it ever since. One day...

[grcamna2]

We have an island hopper airline called Mokulele, they use Cessna Caravans, 9 passenger, no TSA and at Maui, Big Island and Oahu they use what's called the Inter Island Terminal separate from the big terminals. They charged us $20 to check one carry on bag and one yellow top bin with the parts. The baggage goes in a compartment on the underside of the fuselage. We had to go to Oahu anyway so it was cheap. I may even fly over to pick it up when it's done, or perhaps my daughter can pick it up, she goes over for work at times. I'm nervous about shipping it commercial. Here is a link to the plane. They fly at 2500 to 9000 feet, you get a nice tour. Once when flying to the Big Island they flew us right over the Haleakala Crater, very scenic, when approaching Molokai they often go along the northern sea cliffs and there are waterfalls. Lots of fun.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Mokulele+cessna+caravan&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiGgqvIy9n0AhWhGzQIHR4yCzoQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=Mokulele+cessna+caravan&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQDDIGCAAQCBAeOgcIIxDvAxAnOgUIABCABDoECAAQQzoGCAAQBxAeOggIABAIEAcQHlCqDFieJmClOWgAcAB4AIABkwGIAckKkgEEMC4xMJgBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=83ezYca8DKG30PEPnuSs0AM&bih=675&biw=1291#imgrc=EuFu3y3L_YetcM

Those Cessna's look like they have Plenty of space under the passenger floor for luggage.I image that single engine must be quite the powerhouse to haul that much plane/load.

[RAFster122s]

Caravans are workhorses like the Beaver and Pilatus cargo/passenger planes

[MauiK3]

They are fun to fly on and it’s only 9 passengers, they are usually working folks going to work, medical or shopping on another island. Hunters go too, easy to check their rifles for the deer or sheep hunts on Lanai or Molokai. They hand you your luggage right from the plane.
We overheard a newlywed couple once. The girl whispers to her new husband “ does it really only have one engine?”
Funny.
Got the carbs on today only to find I don’t have the correct clamps for the air box side. They were not on the bike when I got it and I ordered the wrong part, what I have is too small.
Bleeding the brakes now too.
I’ll put the exhaust on soon when I’m almost ready to test fire the engine.
Moving along.

[Terry in Australia]

Good work Steve, are there any Z1 events scheduled for Hawaii next year? I’m getting excited about finishing my Z1B after Christmas because it’s gonna be a big year for Z1’s here.

[MauiK3]

I should check with the Kawasaki dealer about events.
I did a little wire work to get the headlight working. I got it going but inside the headlight there appears to be two unused switched power wires.
A single brown/white, which I think is for the Euro pilot lamp.
A double solid brown. I can’t seem to see that on my various wiring diagrams which generally fall well below adequate.
Anyone know what the solid brown is?

[Don R]

Power feed to the neutral and oil pressure indicator lights?

[RAFster122s]

Drop an email to vintagebrake about your shoes. He might be able to help you or point you to a source for decent compound shoes if you are going to replace the current ones...

[MauiK3]

The Z1 doesn't have as much going on in the headlight can as a CB750. there are two connectors in there and pretty much the whole bike is wired, I'm still left with this mystery power source. It must be a Euro spec thing I'm not aware of. None of the books I have about the Z1 talk much about the wiring harness. I think the authors didn't want to swim in that pool. No matter, the lights all work.

[Stev-o]

The Z1 doesn't have as much going on in the headlight can as a CB750. there are two connectors in there and pretty much the whole bike is wired...

I recall that and thought that Kawasaki had wired this so much better than the CB!